The 5X optical zoom is a definite plus compared to the standard 3X zoom that comes with most cameras. 5X gets you that much closer to the action, and that can make all the difference at sporting events or in any situation where you want to bring things closer or keep a distance so as not to attract attention. Multiply that with the camera's 5.1X digital zoom and you have a total magnification of 25.5X. The V20 also has "intelligent zoom," something that's between "real" optical zoom and digital zoom. Intelligent zoom makes use of unused resolution when you shoot pictures at one of the lower res settings. If you shoot at 640 x 480 VGA resolution, for example, you can get up to 25.5X zoom at significantly better quality than with the digital zoom.

Almost all new cameras have blur reduction or shake reduction these days. That's especially important when you shoot in low light conditions where the camera switches to slower shutter speed or when you use the zoom. The V20 has a digital shake reduction mode for both still pictures and movies. Amazingly, the camera even lets you apply shake reduction after you take a picture.

From a design point of view, the V20 is a very elegant camera with a nicely designed aluminum-alloy housing. Surfaces are a very fine powder-coated silver, and accents are in gleaming chrome. The design language of the V20 is mostly rectangles with rounded edges and corners. In terms of size, the T30 is a compact little box. It measures 3.8 x 2.2 inches and is 0.9 inches thick. That makes it a bit larger than a standard credit card (and also a bit thicker than its Optio V10 predecessor). It's light, too—around five ounces with its Li-Ion battery installed.

Features of the Optio V20

While most serious photographers play around with their pictures in an image processing program once they are uploaded into a PC, the large display of the V20 is conducive to some image manipulation in the camera. The V20, for example, let's you select frames for fun pictures. Use either one of the three standard frames or download as many as 99 frames and save them in the camera. You can still zoom and even move the image around so the subject fits just right.

Pentax is proud of the V20's almost totally icon-based menu system. It does look simple and friendly and it does make the camera easy to use, mostly. Unfortunately, camera menus remain totally unstandardized and you have to get used to a new and different one with almost every camera you pick up. Manufacturers usually try to use the same meny system within their own models, but even there things are not completely consistent. Add to that the fact that today's digital cameras (including the V20) no longer have optical viewfinders and thus rely on you being able to see what is on the LCD display, and things become dicey. One feature that sets most of the Pentax Optio cameras apart is a physical "green mode" button that switches the camera to standard settings. So even if you can't see a thing on the screen, pushing the "green mode" button on the lower left assures that you will get a decent picture.

Controls

A nice extra is that the face recognition button also zooms into a face if the image was taken in face reco mode. If there are multiple faces, each push of the button will zoom into a different face.

Power

Storage/memory

Video

Shooting modes

• Auto Picture -- Automatically picks the best capture mode.
• Program -- Default mode that lets you set arious functions.
• Night Scene -- Best used with a tripod; benefits from the camera's ability to shoot at very high sensitivity.
• Movie -- Movie mode with sound.
• Voice Recording -- For recording sound only (up to 24 hours worth).
• Landscape -- The camera focusses on a wide range.
• Flower -- Brings out bright colors and softens outlines.
• Natural Skin Tone -- Tries t adjusts color and brightness to accurately reproduce skin colors.
• Portrait -- Brightens skin tones for that healthy, vibrant look.
• Surf & Snow -- Accommodates bright and shiny backgrounds like beaches and snow.
• Sport -- Keeps the camera in focus until the shutter is released to capture fast-moving subjects and action.
• Digital SR (Blur Reduction) -- Switches the camera to higher sensitivity and quicker shutter speed to reduce blur from subject and camera movement. However, with SR max resolution is just 5 megapixel.
• Pet -- To capturing pets in motion, and there's a special setting setting to capture a pet's coat (white, gray or black).
• Kids -- Combines capturing moving subjects with face reco and also produces healthy and bright skin tones.
• Food -- High saturation makes food look yummy!
• Digital Panorama -- Stitches three images together to create a panorama.
• Digital Wide -- Combines two images for a simulated wideangle view equivalent to a 28mm lens.

Sensitivity and other settings

Some cameras oversharpen, oversaturate and use other defaults that result in pictures that may not be pleasing to all eyes. The V20 lets you change some of those settings. You can, for example, set image sharpness, color saturation, and contrast to your liking.

Bottom line

We like:

• Huge 3-inch wide viewing-angle LCD
• 5X optical zoom
• Plenty of fun and useful software features
• Digital shake reduction with ISO up to 6400

• No optical zoom during movies
• No super-macro
• No sensor shift shake reduction

Above: The Pentax Optio V20 has a manual focus mode. If you engage it, the camera will zoom into the center of the picture so you can adjust the focus via the four-way navigation disc.